Chief Constable puts his foot down over keeping speed cameras on Northamptonshire roads

Northamptonshire's top cop is putting his foot down despite a number of complaints over using keeping mobile speed cameras on the roads during the Covid-19 lockdown.

No-nonsense Chief Constable Nick Adderley revealed last month drivers were using the county's empty roads like race tracks as thousands of motorists obeyed Government instructions to avoid unnecessary journeys.

One driver was clocked doing nearly 65mph in a 30mph limit on an estate in Wellingborough this week.

Yet Mr Adderley tweeted: "There seems to be an attitude of ‘empty road, go like stink but lockdown does not equal lawlessness or a free for all on the roads.

"I've had more emails today from members of the public complaining that our camera safety vans are still deploying to key locations and accident hot spots and that our officers are still patrolling the roads.

"One such email was from a nurse!

"My stock answer to them all is simple really: Don’t speed, don’t drive recklessly and you won’t need to worry about the camera safety vans or patrolling officers.

"We advertise where the vans are likely to be, it’s not like we’re trying to hide them. Plus, it’s only a money machine if you feed it.

"Dealing with Covid-19 is in addition to everything else we have deal with."

Mr Adderley will host a second Facebook live session from the Wootton Hall HQ tomorrow (Thursday April 9) facing questions from the public over his force's handling of the Covid-19 crisis.

Top of the agenda is likely to be enforcing the Government lockdown in parks and open spaces over Easter which has divided opinion.

Northamptonshire Police have thanked the public for sticking to the rules and did not issue any fines to law-breakers over the first two weekends of the lockdown.

But some residents believe the police's "engage, listen and educate" policy is too soft and are calling for punishments for those going out without good reason.

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